Schultz apologizes to Gabbard, Buttigieg for military remark

SEATTLE (AP) — Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz, who is considering an independent bid for president, is apologizing for saying he had likely spent more time with the military than the other candidates.

Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz speaks at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. Schultz is set to further explain his vision for an independent presidency outside the two-party system in a speech at Florida’s Miami Dade College on March 13. According to a copy of his prepared remarks obtained by The Associated Press, he will further explain what a potential Schultz presidency could look like.

March 14, 2019

Schultz made the comments during an interview Thursday with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt. Two Democratic candidates are veterans, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii and South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg (BOO'-tuh-juhj).

Afterward, Schultz tweeted that leaders must accept responsibility for mistakes and his comment "was wrong." Gabbard served in Iraq with the Hawaii Army National Guard, and Buttigieg is a veteran of the Afghanistan War, having served a tour with the Navy Reserve.

Buttigieg tweeted that he didn't "recall seeing any Starbucks over there." During his time at Starbucks, the company pledged to hire more veterans and last year said it had hired 21,000 over five years.

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